Some Clinton Backers Unhappy Obama Is Not Helping More With New York Senator's Campaign Debt

Some high-profile Hillary Clinton backers are expressing disappointment that Barack Obama has not done more to help his former rival retire her campaign debt.

Federal Election Commission records show that the Clinton campaign was almost $24 million in the red at the end of July. She has shaved off only $1.2 million from the total since leaving the race in June. Senator Clinton raised just $2 million in July while Senator Obama raised more than $50 million.

Prominent Clinton backer Lynn Forrester told the Times of London, "He has provided her with a pittance compared to what the Clintons have given Obama. Her debt could have been cleared within 10 days. It's ungracious."

The Obama campaign points out it has held two fundraisers and raised more than a half of a million dollars to help Senator Clinton pay off her debt.

Imbalance Sheet

The FEC has the Republican National Committee with an almost two-to-one advantage over its Democratic counterpart in July contributions, translating to a $68 million advantage in cash on hand.

But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee consistently pulls in more than its Republican counterpart and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has a huge cash advantage over its Republican counterpart — $43 million to $25 million. That has led National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign to slam his GOP brethren for not opening their wallets wide enough.

"I recently challenged my colleagues to step up to the plate and help me provide the resources our candidates need to compete in races across the country — to match the DSCC expenditures in targeted races. It has become clear that my call has gone largely unanswered," Ensign said.

Scaling Back

The state of Alabama is third in national obesity rankings, so it is tightening the belt on state workers who are too fat. Alabama has given its 37,000 state employees one year to start getting in shape or face $25 a month extra for insurance that would otherwise be free.

Alabama will be the first state to charge overweight workers who do not attempt to improve their health through free programs covered by insurance. Although some see merit in the policy, others are less than thrilled.

Health Department employee Chequla Motley says, "It's terrible. Some people come into this world big."

College professor EK. Daufin, who holds body acceptance workshops, says, "I'm big and beautiful...not lazy, not a glutton and certainly not deserving of the pompous, poisonous disrespect served up daily to those of us with more bounce to the ounce."

Chillin Out

A climate change lobbying group in Australia organized a torch relay as part of a nationwide campaign to focus attention on the impact and urgency of global warming. But there was a bit of a problem — the small crowd that turned out for the global warming relay had to deal with freezing temperatures during which the wind chill dropped to below zero.